200 THE amateur's geeenhouse 



where the plants flower freely. Home-grown seed is un- 

 known, as hitherto the flowering of a Beaucarnea in Europe 

 has been a rare event. 



BoKAPAETEA. — This is a fine genus of bromeliaceous plants 

 requiring the same treatment as agaves. B.juncea, on account 

 of its elegant rush-like leaves, is one of the most popular plants 

 of the class in cultivation. It makes a fine ornament for a vase 

 in the open air during summer. B. gracilis is equally valu- 

 able, though but little known. 



Ctcas. — The Cycads combine the gracefulness of the tree 

 fern with the noble aspect of the palm. A considerable pro- 

 portion of the species succeed in the conservatory with no 

 more warmth than is necessary to keep the ordinary stock of 

 decorative plants in health. They merely require an abundance 

 of light, with protection from frost and cold chilling winds. 

 It is true some of the species will make a more rapid progress 

 when in a temperature rather higher than that at which the 

 conservatory is usually kept ; but, on the other hand, it is 

 equally true that reputed stove species are sufficiently hardy 

 to admit of their being placed in the conservatory for the 

 summer season. Further than this, the more hardy kinds are 

 of the utmost value in the embellishment of the garden, C. 

 7-evohda, having been employed for several years in the sub- 

 tropical department of Battersea Park. However, they are 

 too rare to admit of more than a solitary specimen here and 

 there being put out. 



Although the annual growth made by the most healthy spe- 

 cimen is exceedingly slow, it must not be considered of little 

 consequence whether they are dealt with in a thoroughly 

 generous manner, or kept simply in a state of semi-starvation. 

 It is, indeed, of the highest importance that they should be 

 dealt with generously, and although the eff'ects of good 

 management will not be so strikingly apparent as in the case 

 of a geranium or fuchsia, or a number of other soft- wooded 

 plants, it will show its effects in time, and the cultivator will 

 receive an ample reward in having specimens of a highly 

 increased value. In this respect they di3"er from soft wooded 

 plants, insomuch that they steadily increase in value and yield 

 a fair interest on the first outlay. To grow them well it is 

 only necessary to pot them in strong loam and sharp siliceous 

 grit, and give them liberal supplies of water all the summer. 



